Head up, hands on hips, proud smile. During the G7 in Borgo Egnazia, Giorgia Meloni spun boldly to the rhythm of the Salento pizzica. The world seemed at his feet. Almost two years later, in front of a hedge in the garden at home, he has a dark face and is wearing a light sweater. In the background you can hear a blackcap chirping. “The Italians have decided and we respect this decision,” says the prime minister. It is the first stumble, after a long triumphal ride. He didn’t expect it. Until the last day, he had repeated to his men: “We will win.” This is also why it is the most burning defeat. «The bold descents and the ascents», sang his beloved Battisti. We will vote next year. The hike begins again.
Giorgia, after her laurels, returns to the trenches. Like in the old days. With the helmet lowered on the forehead, ready to counterattack. “Errors or distractions are no longer allowed” she clarified to those who met her in recent days. «When we appear again in front of the Italians, we will have to be sure that we have done everything possible». The first victims were Andrea Delmastro and Giusi Bartolozzi. The undersecretary for Justice resigned after the irreparable event: he had become a partner of the daughter of a frontman of the Sienese boss. The head of the Cabinet of the Keeper of the Seals, Carlo Nordio, left instead for the harsh sentence against those magistrates who had become “firing squads”. Finally, the other requested farewell arrived: Daniela Santanchè, the Minister of Tourism who ended up on trial for false accounting.
They say: Meloni has become a justice activist, she has chased away the scapegoats. Errata corrige: Fratelli d’Italia has always been a legalitarian party. Yet, she didn’t shy away. Losing bitterly. It wasn’t his reform, perhaps. He decided to become involved in politics after the death of Paolo Borsellino. He was in the warm dining room of the house when he saw the images of the massacre in Via D’Amelio on the small television. It began like this. In the myth of the Sicilian magistrate killed by the mafia. Of course: he too was against the separation of careers. But more than a pressing urgency, it may have been the right and due concession to Forza Italia, an orphan of Berlusconism. In fact, in the party founded by the Knight the defeat started the showdown. Maurizio Gasparri, standard bearer of the old course, has resigned as group leader in the Senate.
The referendum on the separation of careers has become the unexpected warning. The government had left in a carriage, with a sumptuous advantage. It ended in a crushing defeat by more than seven percentage points. Giorgia pulls her head out of the ditch, announcing battle. His opponents are all there. After three and a half years of “grinding”, as he liked to remember, they look at her with a challenging air. The party of the prosecutors. The brancaleonesque opposition. The young ProPal protesters. As well as cynical and cheating destiny. The consultation came at the most inauspicious time. Donald Trump bombed Tehran. The price of gasoline continued to rise. Bills became the new alarm. The war in the Middle East, unleashed by the American president, has convinced droves of impoverished and angry people to vent their discontent at the ballot box.
The opponents hopefully recall the previous funereals. Even Matteo Renzi, defeated in the referendum in 2016, first left Palazzo Chigi and then the leadership of the Democratic Party. In fact, he had promised to abandon politics. Instead, from above his two percent, he now explains to a unified media how the world is going: «I say this because I’ve been there: from today Meloni has lost his magic touch. For four years she seemed invincible, now everyone will doubt her.” The very wide field is in ecstasy. Giuseppe Conte parades from one TV lounge to another, once again showing off the pocket square in his pocket. Elly Schlein seems radiant, after years of atrocious teasing. They will compete in the primaries, together with supporting antagonists, such as Ernesto Maria Ruffini from Prodia. The cheerful mayor of Genoa could be added to the cheerful company: Silvia Salis. She denies wanting to participate in single combat, but continues to champ. On the day of the surrender of Santanchè, while Elly was gloating in front of the foreign press, she even took part in notebooks with Dario Franceschini, the one from whom every Piddino leader descends. However: the polls crown Giuseppi. The president of the Five Star Movement could also count on the support of those fiercely opposed to the Dem secretary. And the program seems already written: to instigate the revolt of the south and of the young people who took to the streets, in compliance with the referendum indications.
The “No” front, however, drew on the abstentionists. They are unlikely to be enchanted by Giuseppi and Elly’s promises. It also seems very unlikely that the people will turn their backs on the prime minister, as happened to her predecessor Matteo. In 2018 Fratelli d’Italia was at four percent. The opponents at home mocked Meloni: “queen of Garbatella”. Five years later, she was the first female prime minister in republican history. Foreign newspapers acclaimed her: “Queen of Europe”. Now Renzi dreams of her grim fate: “The spell is over.” Meloni, however, sings Battisti. He always knew that this moment, sooner or later, would come. It’s the season of discontent. Also fueled by the generalized hatred towards the unpredictable and contemptuous Trump, who has never failed to praise her.
In via della Scrofa, the party’s headquarters, the atmosphere is certainly not relaxed. Delmastro and Santanchè could just be the first. Has the cleanup begun? The Melonian colonel has slept little, but seems resolute. He tells Panorama: «Giorgia will not let herself be worn out. He reacted immediately. A few hours after the defeat, he asked for and obtained the resignation of three people. It’s a very clear signal. He won’t let himself be pushed into a corner. He will fight to the end.” He started with his own, though. «She was always very strict with herself and understanding with those around her. Now things will change. Andrea’s lightness struck everyone. No more positional income. No one, from now on, can consider themselves untouchable. Whoever makes a mistake pays. Whoever is good will be rewarded.” Victory in the next elections seemed obvious. «There was a drop in tension. Now we can’t do bullshit anymore.”
Just give ammo to reservists and recruits from the wide field. In addition to defending the fortress, it is urgent to react. Meanwhile, the reforms. The one about justice is gone. Meloni’s passion was the premiership. But it’s not air. There would be the risk of the usual accusations of authoritarianism and another popular consultation. Nothing to do. The autonomy desired by the League will proceed blandly to avoid controversy in the southern regions, already shaken by the high cost of living.
The electoral law remains. The Stabilucum provides a generous majority bonus. The opposition objects, but now dreams of a comeback. The stalemate that the current rules promise is of no use to anyone. In the end, they might rant but sketch. The theme does not enchant voters, but it will help Giorgia to relaunch one of the indisputable merits of this government: stability. In September it could become the longest in republican history. A record that Giorgia cares about immensely. It will be the banner to wave. No more mix-ups, reversals and technicians. Also for this reason, early elections are categorically excluded.
Security, then. The voters were thrilled. They were hoping for a turning point. Instead, the cities are besieged by Maranza and illegal immigrants. Landings and repatriations have decreased by sixty percent, but the emergency remains. «A politicized part of the judiciary continues to hinder any action aimed at combating mass illegal immigration» said Meloni during the referendum campaign (in this regard, also read the article on page 16). The overwhelming victory of the robes even risks making things worse. Now they preach pacification, but the No front could regroup to oppose government priorities: such as security, in fact. The fear has already been made clear by the usually not very talkative undersecretary of the presidency, Giovan Battista Fazzolari: «The worry is that this action will become even more invasive».
Giorgia, meanwhile, scrutinizes the clouds gathering over the economy. Spring appointments begin. The top management of the most strategic public companies will need to be renewed: Poste, Eni, Enel, Leonardo, Terna and Enav. But the real battle will be against the price increases, which would have stirred up the discontent of the abstentionists. The war in the Gulf risks cripple growth and consumption. The fuel decree, which cut 25 cents per liter, will expire on April 7. There is also discussion of an increase in levies on the extra profits of energy companies. It is supported above all by the leader of the League, Matteo Salvini. Meanwhile, the bill decree has just been approved. Then the housing plan will arrive: an intervention worth around 8 billion, to offer “100 thousand homes at controlled prices” over the next ten years. Also in April, the troubled forecasts on public finances will start the long ride towards the 2027 budget. After the sobriety of the last budget, Giorgia was hoping for the next one. But the consequences of the war in the Middle East risk being even more harmful. And he could be satisfied with claiming the accounts are in order. At the beginning of the year he had dictated the priorities: «Promote employment, lower energy prices, support investments». All economic measures. It is no coincidence that the first comment after the one on the referendum concerned tax evasion: over one hundred million recovered in three years. “We will deliver to Italians a fairer, faster, more transparent tax system” added the prime minister.
The galvanized opponents, meanwhile, begin to unleash. Elly wants minimum wage. Giuseppi dreams of restoring UFO and hyperuranic bonus checks. They brawl and rejoice. Who would have thought? The next elections, until a few months ago, seemed like a formality. The prime minister is sinking into the quagmire, they are now repeating to the galvanized loyalists. But the now much quoted Winston Churchill remembered: «Success is not definitive, failure is not fatal: what counts is the courage to continue». In the darkest hour, Giorgia decided to return to the trenches.
